Vector Power Meter

Garmin Introduces Vector Pedals

The long-awaited road bike power meter hits market

Joe Lindsey

(Photo by After four years of testing and teases, the Garmin Vector power meter pedals are on sale. (courtesy))

After four years of development, Garmin introduced its highly anticipated pedal-based power meter, Vector, to a select group of media this week. While the company had two high-profile false starts, the Vector is no longer vaporware; it’s on sale immediately.

Vector separately measures each leg’s power output, and boasts what may be the easiest installation process of any direct-measurement power meter on the market. Unlike crank-based devices, the users can easily share the pedals between multiple bikes.

The ability to separately measure left and right legs’ power (and to see it in real-time on your ANT+ head unit) could open up a whole range of new ways to quantify and improve your riding, said Vector Product Manager Clark Foy, co-founder of the startup which invented the prototype Vector system four years ago (MetriGear) before selling to Garmin and continuing his work there.

“We’ve had a number of academics, fitters, and coaches approach us and say they want to work with us,” said Foy, adding that the potential benefits from the additional data could include everything from changes in bike fit to different training programs to make riders more efficient.

The Vector isn’t the first power meter to offer separate left-right power measurement. In fact, it’s not even the first pedal-based system to offer that (the joint Look/Polar Keo Power debuted almost two years ago).

But the Look/Polar system uses Polar’s dedicated W.I.N.D. wireless transfer protocol, which means it only works with Polar head units. Garmin’s Vector is ANT+ (Garmin owns ANT), so the pedals are compatible with any of the dozen or so ANT+ wireless head units available. Via firmware updates, Garmin’s popular Edge series GPS computers (except the 200), and the Forerunner 910XT offer the ability to see real-time power balance data.

It’s also more affordable than the $2,500 Look/Polar system, although still not cheap at $1,700. That price includes the pedals, sensors, and Look Keo-compatible cleats, but does not include a head unit.

The front (left) and back (right) of the Vector’s Pedal Pods. (Joe Lindsey)

While the sensor units, called Pedal Pods, look dangerously vulnerable, Foy said the company has not damaged one in riding through four years of testing. Should you damage one, replacements cost $69. You can also purchase a pedal rebuild kit, comprising the pedal bodies and the spindle housing cylinders, for $200. The spindle itself, with the power meter internals, is by far the most expensive single part.

While the internals of the Vector’s power measuring apparatus could fit into other pedal systems, Garmin is focused on getting the Keo platform out first. The company wouldn’t tip its hand as to when, or if, we’ll see a version for SPD-SL or other system. An off-road or cyclocross system is probably not coming anytime soon; the Pedal Pods will need a redesign to be less vulnerable to damage from rock strikes or other obstacles.

The system is waterproof, although as with any electronic device, waterproof or not, you shouldn’t spray it with high-pressure water. Garmin-Sharp riders have been wear-testing the pedal bodies (without power meter internals) for two seasons to good results, said Foy.

The composite body and aluminum spindle housing are made by Exustar, while Garmin makes its own stainless steel spindles and all the electronics. Each spindle contains eight strain gauges and temperature gauges, while the pedal pods house the accelerometers, battery, and ANT+ transmitters. The accelerometers measure cadence and a GPS head unit tracks speed, meaning that you won’t need additional sensors.

Garmin uses silicon strain gauges to measure deflection in the spindle, which are more expensive than the metal-foil gauges most companies use. But they’re less affected by temperature changes, which improves accuracy. The company further runs every unit through a calibration process at the factory across a range of temperatures.

The company claims that with this procedure and a secondary zero reset procedure that cyclists can perform before starting their ride, Vector’s accuracy is within one percent of your actual power—an improvement over the industry standard on +/- two percent accuracy.